Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-07
cULLoM TELLS OF HIS BILL.
In . Fourth of July Grafton He Elo-
qucntly Defends 1t

In a Fourth of July Grafton He Elo-
qucntly Defends 1t
S%AYBgooK, Ills, July 6.-Senator Gull
lom was the Fourth Of July orator, and
in the course of his remarks said: Eel
low citizens, it may not be amiss for me
to say a word about our internal COM
merce, especially that which under the
constitution congress has the power to
regulate. A law having for its object
the regulation of interstate is
now upon the national statute books. 1t
was a long time getting there, but 1t is
finally there. The constitution provides
that congress shall have power to regu-
late eI.ila.4erce with foreign nations and
among the several states and with the In
dian tribes but no general statute at
fecting commerce among the states was
passed until the n to which I have re-
ferred. It has produced some noise and
friction, and doubtless believe 1t a bad
law and think 1t should be repeated. IL
may need amendment; but, fellow citi-
zens, the enactment of that law at the
last session of congress marked the be-
ginning of q new era in railway admin
istration, and the elimination OF a Nom
orable and lon~g-eontinued struggle for
supremacy between the people of this
country and the combined power Of the
railway corporations, which the people
brought into being, but which assumed
to be Independent OF the powcs that Gre
ated them.
This was the real contest, though 1t
was ingeniously involved in innurnerable
side issues; and all the powerful infin-
eIfces possessed by vast aggregations of
capital were arrayed together with the
common purpose Of preventing the federal
government from assuming to control
the operations Of the railroads, which,
under S1e constitution, were subject to
their authority. inc contest which has
been waged of late years In congress was
bnt q continuation OF the struggle in
augurated hers in Illinois and neighbor-
ing states years ago., and which finally
resulted in the notable triumphs achieved
by the people in the decisions of the
United States supreme court In the So
called Granger cases. and In the estab-
nshment OF state railroad legislation.
Whatever, may be found upon trial to
be the merits or dement's OF the new
law, | consider its enactment . great vic
tory for the people, because its passage
was q declaration by the congress OF the
United States that the people had some
rights which the railroads are bound to
respect, and that hereafter this power Of
the general government will be put forth
to see that these great highways of traffic
are conducted upon business principles
for the common good, instead Of for the
benefit of such localities and individuals
as the railroad managers might see fit to
favor and build up. Those who are re-
sponsible for Its terms have never claimed
that fha law wae nprferf hrrt ~ WANNA.
scented their best Judgment after careful
investigation. 1t could not reasonably
be expected that the intricacies and oom-
plications Of the railroad problem, which
have puzzled the wisest minds Of this
and other nations for years, would DO
solved at the first attempt, hut a begin
uing has been made. n step In advance
has been taken, and il we hold fast to
adv antages we have gained time and ex-
perience will render further progress safe
and certain,